The Russell Wilson Benching: Insights from Phil and Matt Simms
On a recent episode of the Simms Complete podcast, renowned NFL analysts Phil and Matt Simms engaged in a spirited discussion regarding the surprising benching of Russell Wilson. The decision by the Denver Broncos to give Jarrett Stidham an opportunity started to raise eyebrows across the league, and the Simms duo offered their take on the situation.
Phil Simms began by expressing his skepticism about the Broncos' reasoning for benching Wilson. He referred to Denver's statement that they wanted to "see what they have in Jarrett Stidham" as "pure crap." Phil questioned the practicality of expecting to learn anything new about Stidham's abilities in just two games, especially given Wilson's extensive track record in the NFL.
Furthermore, Phil hinted that the decision might reflect a desire by Broncos' leadership to make a statement, indicating that Sean Payton, the head coach of the Broncos, may be inclined to move on from Russell Wilson. Phil expressed his reservations about this move, considering Wilson's impressive performance throughout the season, where he tallied 27 touchdowns.
Matt joined the conversation, echoing the sentiment that the decision to bench Wilson was unexpected. He noted that, in his opinion, Wilson had appeared to improve under Sean Payton's coaching. The improvement was particularly noticeable towards the latter part of the season, suggesting that Wilson and Payton had established a productive working relationship.
Phil Simms emphasized that there were no guarantees that any quarterback coming into the Broncos' fold would outperform Russell Wilson in terms of winning games or overall performance.
